Worthington Middle School presents ‘Pride Academy’ as restorative alternative to suspension

Toni Bartman, Worthington Middle School principal, told the Worthington Public School District Board of Education at its February meeting that the district has launched Pride Academy, a two-day restorative program the school is piloting as an alternative to traditional in-school (ISS) and out-of-school suspension (OSS).

Bartman said Pride Academy focuses on respect, responsibility and empathy while providing academic support, behavior restoration and personal development. “It gives a sense of belonging,” Bartman said, calling the program “an alternative to suspension.” She described a team that includes counselors, social workers, a paraeducator who runs the Pride room and the school resource officer; parents attend exit presentations.

The program ends with a presentation students give to staff and family reflecting on why they entered the program, how their words and actions affected others, and what they would do differently in the future. Bartman said staff also prepare a reentry plan and a behavior contract that students and attending parents sign.

Bartman presented preliminary data from the program’s first year. “So far this year, we had 36 students that have been through Pride, and only three of those students have been back in Pride again for something different,” she said. She contrasted the district’s current year figures with last year’s: 59 students received ISS last year versus six so far this year; 15 students repeated ISS last year versus zero repeat ISS this year; last year there were four OSS incidents compared with one so far this year; and expulsions dropped from one last year to zero this year.

Board members asked about how students are selected for Pride Academy and whether suspension remains an option. Bartman said Pride is used first: “The first time is always Pride,” and that placement is individualized. The board also asked about collecting follow-up feedback from students and parents; Bartman said the district is developing a plan to check in with students one week, two weeks, a month and later after reentry.

The presentation noted the program draws on practices observed at another district and that staff adapted that model for Worthington Middle School. Bartman and Tessa Dirks said student reactions to the program’s closing slide—positive remarks from teachers and trusted adults—are often emotional and supportive of reentry.

District and board members praised the program’s early results and encouraged continued data collection as the pilot continues.